Football playoffs: Whitefish hosts Butte Central

Whitefish is prepped to host its first playoff football game in a decade this Saturday when they take on the No. 3 seed Butte Central Maroons at Memorial Field at 1 p.m.

The last time the Dogs hosted a playoff game in 2003 they lost 41-35 to, you guessed it, Butte Central.

Saturday afternoon offers a shot at redemption and a chance for this year’s team to build upon their own legacy.

“This senior class has worked really hard for the chance to host a playoff game,” Whitefish coach Chad Ross said. “I’m proud of them.”

The winner will advance to take on top-seed Belgrade.

Butte shut out Corvallis 49-0 on Friday to cap their regular season with a 5-4 record overall and 3-2 in the Southwestern A conference. They finished third in the league behind No. 1 Dillon and No. 2 Hamilton.

Butte’s losses this year came against Dillon, Billings Central, Belgrade and Hamilton.

The Maroons are second in the Southwest in rushing and passing, and average 40 points per game.

Wyatt Kingston is the league’s top running back, averaging seven yards per carry on 864 total rushing yards this season. Butte quarterback Danny Peoples has thrown for 1,625 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Ross says the Dogs match up nicely with Butte.

“It will be our great secondary against their great passing game,” Ross said. “It’s going to be a good game.”

He says the Dogs are in top form defensively and that they’re still reaching for their ceiling offensively.

The Bulldogs won’t change up their weekly routine heading into the game.

“We’ll stay with what we know,” Ross said. “We don’t want to be too over-hyped and make mistakes we usually don’t make.”

He said home-field advantage will be a huge benefit.

“We play really well at home,” he said. “The fans have been great all season.”